AMERICAN SWAN. 141 



toward the end, when they widen a little ; the tip rather abruptly 

 rounded, the unguis truncato-obovate. Nostril medial, elliptical, di- 

 rect, near the ridge ; nasal groove elliptical. Lower mandible flat- 

 tened, slightly recurved ; the angle long and rather narrow, the edges 

 parallel, the tip truncate, the unguis somewhat triangular. 



Head of moderate size, oblong, compressed. Neck very long and 

 slender. Body very large. Feet short, stout, placed a little behind 

 the centre of the body ; tibia bare for an inch and a half, and reticu- 

 lated ; tarsus short, moderately compressed, reticulated all round with 

 angular scales, of which the anterior are larger ; hind toe very small, 

 scutellate above, granulate beneath ; anterior toes longer than the tar- 

 sus, the outer a little shorter than the third, all reticulate above as far 

 as the second joint, scutellate in the rest of their extent, connected by 

 webs of which the margin is entire, the outer with a thick margin, the 

 inner with a broader two-lobed margin. Claws of moderate size, arched, 

 strong, rather acute, that of the middle toe with the inner edge di- 

 lated. 



Plumage full, compact above, blended beneath ; feathers of the 

 head and neck softer, small, ovate, rounded. Wings ample, convex ; 

 the first quill eight-twelfths of an inch shorter than the second, which 

 is longest, but scarcely exceeds the third ; the first, second, and third 

 cut out on the inner web. Secondaries long, broad, and rounded. 

 Tail very short, much rounded, of twenty broad rounded feathers, of 

 which the lateral are an inch and nine-twelfths shorter than the 

 middle. The bill and the bare space on the fore part of the head black, 

 with an orange oblong patch from the anterior angle of the eye ; sides 

 of lower mandible and inside of mouth yellowish flesh-colour. Iris 

 brown ; feet and claws blacks The plumage is entirely pure white. 



Length to end of tail 53 inches, to end of wings 50^, to end of 

 claws 58 ; extent of wings 84 ; bill along the ridge 4, from the tip to 

 the eye 4:j% ; wing from flexure 22^ ; tail 7i ; tarsus 4^9^ ; hind toe 

 i\, its claw T% ; second toe S/j, its claw \"| ; third toe j%, its claw 

 U ; fourth toe 4:^% ; its claw j\. Weight 19^ lb. Another individual 

 weighed only 14 lb. 



" Individuals of both sexes have the upper part of the head and a 

 portion of the neck tinged with brownish-red. 



The Female is somewhat smaller, but otherwise similar. 



The young in its first plumage is of a uniform light bluish-grey, 



